I came across a quote today “A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ.”

John Steinbeck wrote that in Travels With Charley, his book about a journey across America (and back) with his dog. It sounds like he is issuing a warning not to underestimate depression as an affliction.

A sad soul can kill you, and quickly too.

Last August I wrote about Elizabeth Wurtzel who said it happens gradually and then suddenly . In my experience the gradual part is hardly noticed by anyone.

Wurtzel wrote: “Depression is a lot like that: Slowly, over the years, the data will accumulate in your heart and mind, a computer program for total negativity will build into your system, making life feel more and more unbearable. But you won’t even notice it coming on, thinking that it is somehow normal…and then one day you realize that your entire life is just awful, not worth living, a horror and a black blot on the white terrain of human existence. One morning you wake up afraid you are going to live.” Wurtzel, E. Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America (1994) NY:The Berkley Publishing Group

I could take Steinbeck’s quote to mean that sadness of the soul is more lethal than germs. That thought is more evident in the full passage of Steinbeck: “I remember an old Arab in North Africa, a man whose hands had never felt water. He gave me mint tea in a glass so coated with use that it was opaque, but he handed me companionship and the tea was wonderful because of it. And without any protection my teeth didn’t fall out, nor did running sores develop. I began to formulate a new law describing the relationship of protection to despondency. A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ” Steinbeck, J. (1962) Travels with Charley in Search of America. USA:Viking Press

I know I get so easily wounded by the words and action of others, I could think those who harm are the sad souls who will quickly kill you. That might be a part of the message, but reading this again and again I think the sad soul is the one who can’t accept the (imperfect) companionship of another. Friends.

Crisis counselling is available around the world. In Australia Life Line 13 11 14.

Hedgehog gets lost in the fog, a bit like Mottsu got lost in a fog of depression
Hedgehog falls into the river, Mottsu stepped into the river
They’re different and the same…

This is how it went for hedgehog;
“I’m in the river. Let the water carry me along decided the hedgehog”

(Oh dear Hedgehog – that’s a bit close to home for me )

“He sighed deeply and began to float down with the current”

(Hedgehog! Mottsu!)

“I’m totally soaked I’ll drown soon”

…and this is where it played out differently for hedgehog than Mottsu;
Suddenly someone touched his paw “Excuse me,” someone said quietly ” Who are you and how did you get here?”

“Don’t mention it” said that Someone

(Don’t mention it? I am so touched by the generosity of ‘don’t mention it’ that I am left with nothing to say)

This is such a wonderful little film about all sorts of things and particularly about someone who touches your paw just when you need them the most.
…and it is so easy, so natural that it is covered by ‘don’t mention it’
*sigh*

Thank you to my Estonian friend who shared this magical film on Facebook that’s where I discovered it. When we meet in person we talk about owls, pussycats, boats and sailing and next time we will include conversation about journeys through the fog – wishing her success in her exams and looking forward to tea and jam together xxx